Anutin retorted to Trump by telling Cambodia to stop firing, stating Thailand never initiated the conflict. After calls to end the war, he countered by questioning who used more violent weapons. He acknowledged that oil exports through the Chong Mek checkpoint in Ubon Ratchathani to Laos cannot be intercepted.
16 Dec 2025 GMT+7 Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, spoke at the Government House following a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) regarding oil tanker trucks parked at the permanent Chong Mek checkpoint, Chong Mek Subdistrict, Sirindhorn District, Ubon Ratchathani Province, and whether inspections were conducted about their destinations. The Prime Minister said they were being exported to the Lao People's Democratic Republic and not forwarded to Cambodia. If exports are to Laos, Thailand cannot intercept them.
When asked about Cambodia using international platforms to accuse Thailand of responding with violent weapons, the Prime Minister said to look at the weapons and compare, referring to the BM-21 rockets fired in, then he lamented, “Why do reporters ask like this? Go watch the clips of when they fired BM-21s. Who is more violent?”
Regarding the case where Donald Trump, President of the United States, plans to use sanctions to pressure Thailand and Cambodia to cease fire, the Prime Minister responded only, “I won't answer.” When asked whether there would be no ceasefire despite international pressure, the Prime Minister countered, “Who is pressuring whom? I don't know.”
Regarding questions about China’s Foreign Ministry requesting Thailand to stop firing, the Prime Minister did not respond. Reporters pressed further, noting that the U.S. President said the war could stop. The Prime Minister replied, “Then go ask Cambodia to stop firing at Thailand. Thailand never fired at Cambodia.”